A crisply contemporary, notably grown-up romantic comedy directed and co-written by "Easy A" director Will Gluck, the bi-coastal picture goes a long way in bringing sexy back to a soggy genre, benefiting greatly from the presence of its likable leads.

Not only do they handle the tart banter with an assured, playful give-and-take, but — surprise, surprise — they also manage to exhibit an extremely rare big screen quality: There’s actually a palpable chemistry between them.

Even though the postmodern vehicle ultimately proves guilty of adhering too closely to those very same tired rom-com conventions at which it satirically pokes fun, its fresh-faced, attractive leads inject it with a winning vitality.

Immediately establishing a brisk pace suited to a film set in both New York and Los Angeles, director Gluck dispenses with any creaky plot mechanics that will slow down the business at hand — bringing together hot-shot L.A.-based media art director Dylan (Timberlake) and Manhattan-based corporate headhunter Jamie (Kunis).

Not only does adventurous Jamie manage to convince him to relocate to the East Coast for a dream gig calling the shots at GQ Magazine, they find themselves jumping into each others arms, among other various body parts, even though both are still smarting from recently terminated relationships.

Working from Keith Merryman and David Newman’s sharply observed, casually au courant script, to whch he contributed, Gluck clearly had vintage Hepburn-Tracy sophisticated comedy in the back of his head while working out the style and tempo of the production.

He also mines healthy — and well-deserved — laughs from making fun of the current state of studio romantic comedies with a mock film-within-the-film featuring an unbilled Jason Segel and Rashida Jones along with virtually every rom-com cliché under the sun.

But he also succumbs to many of those very same trappings as the film progresses, including the staging of not one but two choreographed flash mob sequences—a YouTube phenom that already felt past its prime when Howie Mandel hosted a hidden-camera special earlier this year.

The hypocritical element aside, Gluck not only draws terrific performances from Kunis and Timberlake (fresh from their career-best turns in Black Swan andThe Social Network, respectively), but from a crack supporting cast.

Beam him up

Justin Timberlake performs on stage on day 29 of the iTunes Festival at The Roundhouse in London on Sept. 29, 2013.
(Christie Goodwin / Getty Images)
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'Runner' laughter

Timberlake and actress Gemma Arterton laugh as they introduce the world premiere of the film "Runner Runner" at Planet Hollywood Resort & Casino in Las Vegas on Sept. 18, 2013.
(Ethan Miller / Getty Images)
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Ben there

This image released by 20th Century Fox shows Ben Affleck, left, and Timberlake in a scene from "Runner Runner."
(20th Century Fox)
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To the moon, man!

Timberlake poses with the Michael Jackson Video Vanguard Award and the awards for Best Direction, Best Editing, and Video of the Year at the 2013 MTV Video Music Awards at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, N.Y., on Aug. 25, 2013.
(Jamie Mccarthy / Getty Images)
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He put on his suit and tie

Timberlake and his wife, actress Jessica Biel, arrive at the Time 100 gala celebrating the magazine's naming of the 100 most influential people in the world for the past year, in New York on April 23, 2013.
(Lucas Jackson / Reuters)
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In the House

First lady Michelle Obama speaks as musicians Mavis Staples, left, and Timberlake listen during an interactive student workshop at the State Dining Room of the White House in Washington, D.C., on April 9, 2013. The first lady hosted middle and high school students from across the country to take part in the workshop on "Soulsville, USA: The History of Memphis Soul."
(Alex Wong / Getty Images)
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Fallon's main man

Timberlake, center, performs during a skit on "Late Night With Jimmy Fallon" along with A.D. Miles, Tom Shillue, Fallon and Chris Tartar on March 12, 2013. Timberlake is a recurring guest on the late night show.
(NBC via Getty Images)
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Foray into the future

Justin Timberlake announces Myspace TV, a social TV service that will be available on Panasonic connected televisions, at the 2012 International Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas. Timberlake is the company's co-owner.
(Ethan Miller / Getty Images)
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Justin 'Time'?

Rap it in a bow

Timberlake and Jimmy Fallon perform "The History of Rap," a lively medley of rap song excerpts, on "Late Night with Jimmy Fallon." The two performed part one in 2010 and part two in 2011.
(NBC)
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Making a spectacle

Mother's day

Timberlake more than made up for any worry he may have given mom Lynn Harless growing up by taking her to the 83rd annual Academy Awards in 2011.
(Jason Merritt / Getty Images)
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Bearing it all

Timberlake provided the voice of Boo Boo for 2010's "Yogi Bear" and dropped in on the premiere at Mann Village Theater in Westwood, Calif.
(Kevork Djansezian / Getty Images)
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Clothes make the man

Timberlake proved himself a fashion designer as well as singer and actor by launching the William Rast clothing line with old pal Juan "Trace" Ayala, right, in 2005. Here, they take the runway for some welcome applause at 2010's Fashion Week in New York.
(Stefan Gosatti / Getty Images)
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Crowd sourcing

Timberlake wasn't just in New York for his own collection; he also took a seat with Jessica Biel at the Paris68 Fall 2010 Fashion Show.
(Astrid Stawiarz / Getty Images)
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Extra toppings

You shoulda put a ring on it

Timberlake played one of Beyonce's "Single Ladies" backup dancers when she appeared on "Saturday Night Live" in 2008 to spoof her famous video.
(NBC)
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Back to the future

No matter what other ventures he is involved in, Timberlake is first and foremost a musician: Here, he performs in Abu Dhabi during the final show for his FutureSex/LoveShow World Tour in 2007.
(Dave Hogan / Getty Images)
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Step one, cut a hole in a box

Fore-ward motion

With a 6 handicap, Timberlake is also a crack golfer; here, he takes a swing at the Bob Hope Chrysler Classic in Palm Desert, Calif., in 2006.
(Mike Guastella / Getty Images)
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Scoring points

Back in 2006, the future "Bad Teacher" co-stars Timberlake and Cameron Diaz were still an item, and even showed up on "Saturday Night Live" together. Here, they catch some basketball as the Los Angeles Lakers take on the L.A. Clippers.
(Lisa Blumenfeld / Getty Images)
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Ganging up

Clothes riot

Janet Jackson and Timberlake right secretly planned for him to grab at her costume while performing at Super Bowl XXXVIII in 2004, but got more (and less) than they bargained for, when the wardrobe "malfunctioned" and Jackson was briefly exposed to 140 million viewers.
(Getty Images)
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Two in the hand

Following the "wardrobe malfunction" with Janet Jackson at the 2004 SuperBowl, Timberlake was told he'd be barred from the 46th annual Grammys if he didn't apologize. As he accepted the first of two honors he would win that night, Timberlake offered up a scripted "sorry" speech.
(Frederick M. Brown / Getty Images)
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Staged behavior

Hand it over

Prior to going solo and turning to acting, Timberlake had fans screaming whenever he performed with boy band N'Sync; here in 2001 he shakes hands before the Billboard Music Awards in Las Vegas.
(Frank Micelotta / Getty Images)
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Forever in blue jeans

Long before he went into the fashion business, Timberlake made some daring forays into clothing ... including this questionable matching ensemble with then-girlfriend Britney Spears. The two wore the clothing to the 2001 American Music Awards, where she co-hosted.
(Lucy Nicholson / AFP - Getty Images)
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Retro chic

N'Sync was one of the 1990s' top-selling boy bands; their first album sold 11 million units, thanks in part to the charisma of co-lead singer Timberlake, who shared the stage with J.C. Chasez. Here, he gets the audience jumping on their 2000 world tour.
(Getty Images / Getty Images)
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Hair today

Boy, oh boy

Four years after forming, N'Sync (from left to right, Lance Bass, Timberlake, Joey Fatone, J.C. Chasez and Chris Kirkpatrick) could stand tall at 1999's WB Radio Music Awards in Las Vegas.
(Brenda Chase / Getty Images)
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Exclusive club

Who's the leader of one of the greatest clubs in the world? Hard to tell, but "Mickey Mouse Club's" classes of 1989-94 spawned some of the biggest future names in music and acting, including Britney Spears (blue vest), Christina Aguilera (next to Britney), Keri Russell (front of Christina), J.C. Chasez (left front), Timberlake (behind J.C.) and Ryan Gosling (second from top right).
(Everett Collection)
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